Ghana

GHANA

Information about travelling to Ghana

Ghana is located in Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Facts about Ghana
Population23,382,848 note: es
CapitalAccra
Time zoneUTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

General info about Ghana
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. Kufuor is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in upcoming Presidential elections, which are scheduled for December 2008.
Disease threats
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepat
Languages spoken
Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)
What about drugs?
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use
Ethnic division
Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
3.1% (2003 est.)
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Economy
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold and cocoa production, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. Thematic priorities under its current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which also provides the framework for development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability; private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2008.
Environment
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Cities in Ghana

aboso     aburi     accra     aflao     agogo     akim swedru     akropong     akwatia     anloga     apam     asamankese     axim     bawku     bechem     begoro     bekwai     berekum     bibiani     bolgatanga     cape coast     duayaw nkwanta     dunkwa     ejura     elmina     foso     ho     hohoe     kade     keta     kibi     kintampo     koforidua     konongo     kpandae     kpandu     kumasi     madina     mampong     mpraeso     mumford     navrongo     nkawkaw     nsawam     nungua     obuasi     oda     prestea     salaga     saltpond     savelugu     sekondi     shama     suhum     sunyani     swedru     tafo     takoradi     tamale     tarkwa     techiman     tema     teshie     wa     wenchi     winneba     yendi    


Airports in Ghana
Kotoka International AirportACC
KumasiKMS
SunyaniNYI
TakoradiTKD
TamaleTML


Beer in Ghana (0.33l)
Accra~ 0.2 EUR
Nkawkaw~ 0.4 EUR

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